Apparatus for therapeutically applying diathermic currents.



G. BUCKY. APPARATUS FOR THERAPEUTICALLY APPLYING DIATHERMIC CURRENTS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 4,1914,

Patented Feb. 11, 1919.

' GUSTAV BUCKY, F BERLIN, GERMANY; ASSIQNOR TO SIEMENS & HALSKE, A. (3., OF

SIEMENSSTADQ NEAR, BERLIN, GERMANY, A CORI'ORATION UF GERMANY.

APPARATUS FOR THERAPEUTICALLY APPLYING DIA'IHERMIC CURRENTSL To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GUSTAV BUoKY, a

German citizen, and resident of Berlin, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in an Apparatus for Therapeutically Applying Diathermic Currents, of which the following is a specification.

The presentapplication relates to an apparatus for diathermic treatment, that is to say for an electro-medical treatment in which high frequency alternating currents of very penetration are called in electro-medicine diathermic currents.

The high frequency currents may be produced in any suitable manner.

In the therapeutic application of diather mic currents according to the heretofore used method a discomfort is felt by the patient in that at some places of the contacting surfaces of the electrodes a relatively large amount of heat is developed which will cause itching or burning. The reason for this is found in the fact that some narrow parts of the body possess a muchloetter con-' ductivity than the parts surrounding the same and that in consequence thereof an unevendistribution of the current lines issuing from the electrodes and consequently of the developed heat will be produced.

According to my present invention this impermissible heating at the electrodes is prevented by having the diathermic current periodically and at regulable times greatly weakened or entirely interrupted and by having the same again switched on at normal current stren h for a time which is also regula'ble. In this manner the ratio between the intermissions or the duration of the small load and the duration of the closure of the current at normal current strength is so chosen that theelectrodes will cooloifduring the time of intermission and therewith prevent temperatures which will cause a disagreeablesensation of burning. A

By my present invention the therapeutic action of the dlathermic currents uponthe human body will not, be disturbed, since the temperature of the body in distinction from that of the electrodes will practically not Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 11, 1919 Application filed J'une4, 1914. Serial No. 842,928.

change at all on account of the poor heat conductivity of the skin during the times of intermission It will therefore also be possible to generate greater amounts of heat than heretofore, without causing a combustion of the skin.

For carrying the afore-pointed-out method into. effect devices of various kinds may be employed. If the load shall take place alternately with large and small current stren h,

resistances-or choke coils may be switche on and oil, or also the couplingbet ween primary and secondary circuit may be .changed periodically by rhythmically moving to and fro one of the two coupling coils relatively to the other, whereby the variation of the current strength may be accomplished either gradually or suddenly.

In case the present method is employed in such a manner that the diathermic current is alternately fully switched on and ofl", in-- terrupters of various construction may be used, such as are known for various purposes, where the duration of makeand break of the current is made regulablewithin large limits.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a diagram showing the apparatus for treating an organ of the body with diathermic,

distributed over the periphery of said disk.

The disk may be driven' by hand orby means of a motor for interrupting the contact between said brushes 7) in dependence of its.

speed of rotation. The two brushes 7 are interposed in the primary circuit of the transformer 6, so that upon rotation of the switch 8 this circuit will be alternately closed and interrupted. Furthermore one of the two brushes 6 can adjusted relatively to the otheraccording to the scale sc,so that in this manner the duration of the make and break of the current can be varied as desired. The. secondary circuit of the transformer t includes a .spark gap fywhich is connected across the terminals of the secondary winding of the transformer t, and condensers c and a coupling coil is, which are connected in serles w1th sald secondary C11- cuit as shown in the drawing, thus representing an oscillating circultl 'A second coupling coil is, is connected in series with further condensers 0 and the electrodes e which are contacting with the part of the body 12 to be treated all as represented in the drawing. Accordin ly, current will be intermittently conveye to the body 10, whereby the periods of current supply and interruption may be so regulated by means of the position of the one'brush b, that no impermissible heating takes place at the electrodes. Furthermore by regulating the speed of rotation of the disk 8 the absolute duration of the flow and the intermission of current may be adjusted. Instead of the type of interrupter shown in the drawing evidently other kinds of interrupters may be employed.

It is especially important to change the ratio between the duration of current flow and the intermissions thereof, in case it is,

desired to simultaneously treat a pliirality of parts of the body having difi'erent thicknesses by different oscillating circuits, so

" of i faradic touch that one and the same uniformly applied currentstrength. would cause adifferent heating of the body. a

Fig. 2 shows an arrangement of this kind,

I after completed switching operation. For

7 that atv no time are both neously closed; The disks i this purpose'I employ two disks s and 8, similar to the disk .9 of Fig, 1 and carrying at opposite places on their periphery the metal segments m and 1m. On the periphery of each disk slide a pair of brushes 6,, b, and b b which are included in the primary circuit of the transformer t supplying the circuit of the diathermic currents, so that each air of brushes will beenabled to close the circuits. The adjustment of the length of the are between the brushes that is of the brush distance, can be accomplished by ad ustlng the brushes b and b according'to the scales so, and 80 and the brushes 6,, b b b are so arranged .9 and s, are mounted upon a common axlew which may be driven by a hand wheel h or by means of a motor, said axle carrying furthermore two brushes d which. other and which are connected over slip rings .1 and over condensers c with the seeeach other.

The metalsegments circuits .simultaare insulated from each trodes will be alternately traversed by diathermic current which will cause heatto be developed at the places of contact. The length of the several segments n, m, and m and their position relatively to the brushes is so chosen that switching off and on of the primary current will take place before and after the respective switching operation for the secondary circuit on either of the electrode eircuits.

In this manner every sensation of faradic touch will be avoided for the patient when switching over the circuits ofthe diathermic currents, and by adjusting the brushes b, and b the duration of the make and the break of the current in the two electrode circuits may be adjusted independently from With the device described therefore by a faster or slower rotation of the disks 8, and s and the brushes d which may be accomplished by means of the handle it or motor as desired and by adjusting the brushes two features may be attained: firstly, at the contacting surface of the electrodes no impermissibly high heating of the body will be produced, and secondly, the amountsof heat developed in either simultaneously treated part of the body can be regulated independently from each other. i

Having thus describedin the foregoing some embodiments of my invention, I do not Y wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise constructions as shown, since modifications may be made thereon without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

I therefore claim as new and desire .to secure by Letters Patent of 'the United States 1. Apparatus for therapeutically applying diathermic currents, comprising means for producing high frequency alternating currents of high tension, metallic electrodes connected in circuit with such currentroducing means and adapted to be place directlyupon the human body, and means for periodically varying the current applied to the body at suflicient time intervals to permit cooling of said electrodes and ',the contact surface of the body. I

2. Apparatus of he type described, comprising a primary high frequency circuit adapted to "be excited from a source of conimercial alternating current, a secondary high frequency circuit coupled with the primary circuit, metallic electrodes connected with said secondary circuit and adapted to be placed directly upon the human body, means for periodically varying the current applied to the body, and regulating means for adjusting the times of action of the former means. I

3. Apparatus of the type described, comprising a primary, high frequency circuit adapted to be excited from a source of commercial alternating current, a secondary high frequency circuit coupled with the primary circuit, metallic electrodes connected with said secondary circuit and adapted to be placed directly upon the human body, means for periodically interrupting the current applied to the body, and regulating means for adjusting the time of action of the former means.

4. Apparatus of the type described, comprising a low frequency circuit adapted to be connected to a source of commercial alternating current, means for periodically interrupting this circuit, regulating means for adjusting the times of action of the former means,-a high frequency'primary circuit excited from said low frequency circuit, a a secondary high frequency circuit, coupled with the primary circuit and metallic electrodes connected with said secondary circuit and adapted to be placed directly upon the human body. 1 I

Apparatus of the type described, comprising a plurality of electrode, circuits for treating different parts of the body, a .low frequency circuit adapted to be fed by a source of commercial alternating current, ahigh frequency circuit suitably connected to be excited from said low frequency circuit, a plurality of independently adjustable regulating means for periodical actuation of the said circuits, and a swltchlng mechanismadapted to be operated in unison with said regulating means for alternate connection of said electrode circuits with said high frequency circuit.

6. Apparatus of the type described, comprising a low frequency circuit adapted to be connected to a source of alternating current, a plurality of means for periodically interrupting this circuit, regulating means or adjusting the times of action of the former means, a primary oscillatory circuit excited from said low frequency circuit, a secondary oscillatory circuit, coupled with the primary circuit, a plurality of pairs of electrodes, and a switching device running synchronously with said interrupting means connecting the single pairs of electrodes alternatively with said secondary oscillatory circuit.

[7. In an apparatus for diathermic treatment the combination of a plurality of electrode circuits for treating different parts of the body, a primary high frequency circuit, a secondary high frequency circuit coupled therewith, a plurality of independently ad justable regulating means for periodical actuation of'the said circuits, and a switching mechanism adapted to be operated in unison with said regulating means for alternate connection of said electrode circuits with said secondary circuit.

8. In an apparatus for diathermic treatment, the con'ibination of a plurality of electrode circuits for treating different parts of the body, a high frequency secondary circuit, switching instrumentalities for periodically operatively connecting said high frequency circuit in succession with said electrode circuits, and a feeding circuit including a pluralit of current varying mechanisms, means for independently adjusting each of said mechanisms, and mechanical means for operating said switching instrumentalities and said mechanisms in unison with each other.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GUSTAV BUCKY. Witnesses:

HENRY HASPEB, WOLDEMAR HAUPT.

working alternatively, 

